Store show window



Dec. 15, 1931. A. I. ELIAS 1,836,960

STORE SHOW WINDOW Filed Dec. 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Alber f 1. El ias A TORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ALBERT I. ELIAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STORE SHOW WINDOW Application filed December 9, 1930. Serial No. 500,992.

This invention relates to store show Windows, and more particularly to window backs therefor. V I

Store show windows ordinarily include a window back which is structurally fixed in place. In dressing such a window-I have found that it is frequently of advantage to be able to vary the apparent depth of the window in accordance with the type of figure 1 or display being shown therein. According- 1y, one object of the present'invention resides in the provision of a window back, and more particularly of traveling means for supporting the same, whereby the window back will be readily movable toward and from the front wall or window glass.

I have further found it to be of advantage to be able to change the color or/ and material or/ and structure of the Window back in order to keep the same in harmony with the figure or display which is placed in front of the same. In accordance with a further object of the presentinvention, the window back is preferably made readily replaceable and may include a plurality of panels and supporting means for suspending the same in any desired staggered or overlapping or edge to edge relation.

Store show windows frequently include oppositely disposed transparent walls of glass so that the window may be viewedfrom opposits sides thereof, instead of merely afront wall of glass. Various combinations of show windows are frequently provided which, in combination, form an arcade or similar area around which people may walk to observe the entire show window display and in such arrangements at least a portion of the various show windows may be of the type previously mentioned in which the opposite walls are transparent so that the window may be viewed from either side. The effectiveness of the display in such a window is greatly reduced if no window back is employed, first, because people on one side of the window may see the people on the other side of the window, and, second, because the various figures in the windoware not set off to good advantage due to the absence of back ground. Still another object of the present invention therefore centers about the provision of window backs for such show windows, and a particular object of the present invention is to provide such a show window with a movable and readily replaceable window back system such ashas previously been outlined.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the show win dow and window back elements and their relaltion one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawin 's in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a show window embodying my invention;

F ig.-2 is a transverse section taken through the show window;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section explanatory of one form of mechanism permitting movement of the window back;

Fig. 4c is a section taken in the plane of the line 4l l in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section'similar to Fig. 4 taken through a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the invention is shown applied to a store show window having oppositely disposed transparent walls of glass 12 and 14. Several such windows may be appropriately arranged to form a' sort of arcade leading to the store'entrance, thereby greatly augmenting the show window space of the store front. In order to set off the figures or display in the show window to good advantage, and in order to prevent the attention of the onlookers from being distracted by people on the opposite side of the show window, window backs 16 and 18 are employed. The window back 16 may consist of a plurality of window back panels 20, 22 and 24, while the window back 18 may consist of a plurality of window back panels 26, 28 and 30, all of which are preferably 9 made readily replaceable and readily movable by mechanism subsequently described.

In order to improve the structural appearance of the show window the ceiling is ordinarily'provided with ceiling beams. These ceiling beams have heretofore been stationary. In accordance with the present invention ceiling beams may also be provided in simulation of those conventionally employed, but at least some of them are made movable. Thus, referring to Fig. 1, a stationary ceiling beam 32 extends transversely of the show window between the transparent walls 12 and 14. Movable or traveling ceiling beams 34 and 36 are arranged longitudinally of the show window, or in parallel relation to the walls 12 and 14, and extend between the ends of the show window and the stationary beam 32. The window backs 16 and 18 are respectively fastened to the traveling beams 34 and 36 and moved therewith toward and from the opposite walls 12 and 14 of the show window.

The manner in which the traveling beams are arranged for movement is readily apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2 showing the traveling beam 36 suspended by a hanger rod 76 on trolley 40 running in a track 42. The lower face of the traveling beam may be provided with one or, if desired, a pair of collaterally disposed rods 44 extending longitudinally of the beam. The window back panels may be suspended from the rods by means of hooks 46 fitting over the rods. lVith this type of suspension the panels are readily removable and replaceable, and may be positioned in staggered or overlapping relationship or fitted edge to edge, or a double row of window backs may be provided each appropriately fitting the window display on the corresponding side of the window back. The show window may include the customary valances 5O whichdesirably should depend an amount corresponding to the depth of the ceiling beams 32, 34 and 36.

The mechanism permitting movement and replacement of the window backs is shown in greater detail in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings; Referring to these figures, it will be observed that the stationary ceiling beam 32 includes side walls 52 and a bottom wall 54 jointed thereto, and that the window beam is held in place by a strap 56 screwed to the bottom wall 54 and itself supported by a hanger rod or bolt 58, the upper end of which is anchored to a plate 60 which is itself securely anchored in the building floor slab construction above by means of hanger rods 62. The latter also serve to take the weight directly of slotted channels 64 located immediately adjacent the sides 52 of the stationary beam 32.

Slotted tracks 66 of conventional type are located within the members 64 and receive trolleys 40, each provided with pairs of wheels 68 in accordance with known construction. The traveling beams 34 and 36 also include side and bottom walls best indicated by the side walls 70 and bottom wall 7 2 in Fig. 4. The movable beam is suspended by means of straps 74 and hanger rods. 76,

the upper ends of which are fastened to the trolleys 40. The ceiling 78 of the show window is located just above the tops of the traveling beams 34 and 36.

It will be understood, of course, that trolley and track mechanism, similar to that shown at either side of the stationary beam 32, is also located at each end of the window, so that the ends of each of the traveling beams 34 and 36 are similarly supported on movable trolleys. l/Vlllll this construction it will be evident that the longitudinal beams 34 and 36, although apparently of deep, heavy and fixed construction as though supporting the ceiling, are actually readily movable from side to side between the opposite trans-- parent walls 12 and 14 of the show window.

As was previously explained in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the traveling beams 34 and 36 are each provided with a pair of collaterally disposed rods 44 on which the window back panels are suspended by means of hooks 46. The ends of the rods 44 may be anchored in brackets 80, which in turn are affixed to the bottom walls 7 2 of the traveling beams by means of bolts 82.

lVith the construction shown, the window back panels are openly suspended in a detachable way from the ceiling beams, and the rods 44, hooks 46 and brackets 80 are all appropriately designed and finished to present an attractive appearance to the eye. In some cases, however, it may be desired to conceal the mode of attachment of the window back panels to the ceiling beams, and in such cases i the construction described may be slight modified in the manner shown in Fig. 5, in which the traveling ceiling beam 36 is provided with side walls 70 and a bottom wall 72 just as is shown in Fig. 4, but in this case is anchored within the beam by means of brackets 92 fashioned on blocks 94 at each end of the beam. The suspension or hanger rods 7 6 may be employed exactly as was indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, but in this case they may pass through the blocks 94. Although only a single rod' 44 is here shown, it will be evident that, if desired, parallel rods may be used. The present construction conceals the mode of suspension of the window back panels, making the same appear to be a permanent part of the show window construction.

It is thought that the mode of constructing and using and the many advantages of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. The window backs are made readily detachable and replaceable and therefore may be selected in each case to harmonize with, the window display. The apparent depth of the window may be varied by moving the window back toward and from the glass wall of the window, which is of great aid to the window dressers when attempting to properly set off any particular window display. In the case of show windows with o) ositel dis osed transparent walls, the various features of the invention particularly valuable, for they make it possible to apportion the window space as desired between one side and the other of the window; they make it possible to set oif the figures in the window by any desired type of window back panel; and to arrange a plurality of such panels in any preferred formation.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in the preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. A store show window comprising a front wall of glass, a ceiling beam in said show window, a replaceable window back panel, and means for detachably suspending the same from the ceiling beam.

2. A store show window comprising a front wall of glass, a ceiling beam in said show window, replaceable window back panels, and means for detachably suspending the same from the ceiling beam, said means including a pair of collaterally disposed rods fixed longitudinally of said beam and hook members on said panels fitting over either of said rods.

3. A store show window comprising oppositely disposed transparent walls of glass, ceiling beams in said show window, replaceable window back panels, and means for detachably fixing the same to the ceiling beams intermediate the walls of glass.

4. A store show window comprising op positely disposed transparent walls of glass, ceiling beams in said show window, replaceable window back panels, and means for detachably suspending the same from the ceiling beams intermediate the walls of glass, said means including a pair of collaterally disposed rods fixed longitudinally of each of said beams, and hook members on said panels fitting over either of said rods.

5. A store show window including a front wall of glass, a window back, and means supporting the same and permitting movement thereof toward and from said front wall.

6. A store show window including a front wall of glass, a traveling ceiling beam extending in parallel relation to said wall, mechanism supporting the traveling beam and permitting movement thereof toward and from the wall, and a window back panel sus pended on said traveling beam and movable therewith.

7. A store show window including a front wall of glass, stationary ceiling beams extending transversely of said wall, traveling ceiling jbeams extending in parallel relation to said well, concealed trolley and track mechanism for supporting the traveling beams between the stationary beams and permitting movement thereof toward and from the wall, and window back panels suspended onsaid traveling beams and movable. therewith. r

8. A store show window including op positely disposed transparent walls of glass, a traveling ceiling beam arranged between said walls, mechanism supporting the traveling beam and permitting movement thereof between the walls, and a window back panel fixed to said traveling beam and movable therewith. 1

9; A store show window including oppositely disposed transparent walls of glass, stationary ceiling beams extending transversely of said walls. traveling ceiling beams extending inparallel relation to said walls, concealed trolley and track mechanism for supporting the traveling beams between the stationary beams and permitting movement thereof between the walls, and window back panels fixed to said traveling beams and movable therewith.

10. A- store show window including a front wall of glass, a replaceable window back, and means detachably supporting the same and permitting movement thereof toward and from said front wall.

11. A store show window including a front wall of glass, a traveling ceiling beam extending in parallel relation to said wall, mechanism supporting the traveling beam and permitting movement thereof toward and from the wall, a replaceable window back panel, and means for detachably fastening the same to the traveling beam for movement therewith.

12. A store show window including a front wall of glass, a traveling ceiling beam extending in parallel relation to said: wlall, mechanism supporting the traveling beam and permitting movement thereof toward and from the wall, replaceable window back panels, and means for detachably suspending the same from the traveling beam for movement therewith. said means including a pair of collaterally disposed rods fixed longitudinally of said beam and hook members on said panels fitting over either of said rods.

13. A store show window including oppositely disposed transparent walls of glass, a traveling ceiling beam arranged between said walls, mechanism supporting the traveling beam and permitting movement thereof between the walls, a replaceable window back panel, and means for detachably fastening the same to the traveling beam for movement therewith.

14:. A store show window including oppositely disposed transparent Walls of glass, stationary ceiling beams extending transversely of said Walls, traveling ceiling beams extending in parallel relation to said Walls, concealed trolley and track mechanism for supporting the traveling beams between the stationary beams and permitting movement thereof between the Walls, replaceable Window back panels, and means for detachably suspending the same from the traveling beams for movement therewith, said means including a pair of collaterally disposed rods fixed longitudinally of each of said beams, and hook members on said panels fitting over either of said rods.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 4th day of December, A. D. 1930.

' ALBERT I. ELIAS. 

